Coupler



Feb. 21, 1939. I D. s. 'BARROWS 2,148,364

' COUPLER Filed July 29, 1937 3 Shets-fiheet 1 I .DONHLDSBHR/EOWS G im/: g

Feb. 21, 1939. D 5 BARROWS 2,148,364

COUPLER Filed July 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "SEE: I

v I ---r- DONHLD ,5: Bameb ws Feb. 21, 1939.

' D. s BARROWS I 2,148,364

COUPLER Filed July 29, 1937 .3 Sheets-Sheet 3 whom/M lil Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUPLER Application July 29, 1937, Serial No. 156,403

12 Claims.

This invention relates to couplers adapted to operatively connect two adjacent railway vehicles and more particularly to an automatic coupler of the bottom-operated, self-aligning tightlock type.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a tight or firm connection between two associated couplers which are so constructed as to prevent relative movement therebetween in a longitudinal, transverse or vertical direction.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in an automatic coupler, of a coupler head having a knuckle rotatably mounted thereon and a vertically movable lock having a face thereof inclined and in juxtaposition with a correspondingly inclined face provided on the knuckle tail in order to permit a wedging action between the knuckle tail and lock so as to insure a firm interlocking of connected couplers irrespective of wear which may occur therein as a result of continued use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic coupler with a rotatably mounted knuckle and a vertically movable lock which is, in knuckle-lock position, interposed between the knuckle tail and a side wall of the coupler head, said lock being provided with a convex surface in bearing relation with a concave surface on said side wall, thereby providing lock equalization, in that the lock may rotate or pivot about a vertical axis and insure a surface contact between the knuckle tail and lock.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an automatic coupler with a vertically movable lock for retaining the knuckle in closed position, said lock being actuated by a lock link which extends into the coupler head through an aperture provided in the lower portion thereof, the link being provided with a head portion positioned within a recess formed in the lock and having a top sinuous or irregularly curved surface in spaced relation to a correspondingly formed surface forming the roof portion of the lock recess so that, upon upward movement of the link, impacts may be imparted to the lock in order to dislodge said lock from knuckle-locking position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anti-creep means, that is means for preventing the accidental displacement of the lock which may be the result of impacts to which the coupler issubjected in service; said means comprising a finger extending outwardly of the head portion of the link adapted tobe superimposed upon an associated ledge extending within the recess in the lock and an angularly inclined shoulder provided on the head portion of the link adapted to underlie and engage a transverse web in the coupler head.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings which disclose a novel arrangement and construction of parts and illustrate an exemplary form of the present invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a coupler embodying a form of the present invention, a portion of the coupler head being shown in section to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken through a longitudinal plane on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View, taken through a transverse plane on the lines 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figure 2, but illustrating the looking mechanism in an extreme lowermost position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figures 2 and 4, except that the lock and associated mechanism is shown in lockset position.

Figured is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding substantially to Figure 3, except that the mechanism is illustrated in lock-set position.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding substantially with the longitudinal view taken along the lines 2--2 of Figure 1, but with the operating mechanism illustrated as in its uppermost position with the knuckle rotated to open position, as indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a partial transverse sectional view corresponding with Figures 3 and 6, except that the operating mechanism and knuckle are 11- w lustrated in open position, as disclosed by Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a Vertical sectional View, taken along the lines 9--9 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is an elevational view, taken along the lines llllll of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts, 5 the coupler, generally designated as I, comprises a head 2 having a knuckle 3 rotatably mounted on said head and operatively connected thereto by means of a vertically disposed pin 4. The pin 4, which extends through vertically spaced 55 apertures 5 and an aligned aperture 5 provided in the coupler head and knuckle respectively, is introduced into said apertures through the lower of the said apertures 5. The pin 4 is restricted from downward displacement by a pin 6 or any other suitable means which extends through the collar T projecting downwardly from the coupler head and defining the lower aperture 5. A head 4 is formed on the lower portion of the pin which engages an associated part of the coupler head to restrict the upward displacement of the pin.

The coupler illustrated in the accompany ng drawings is of the self-aligning type by reason of the fact that coacting means have been provided thereon to bring a pair of angularly disposed disconnected couplers into vertical and/or longitudinal alignment without, as in the use of certain structures, the necessity of an operator entering between two railway vehicles,- one of which may be, and often is moving, to position the coupler of the stationary vehicle in substantial alignment with the approaching coupler so that they may be operatively connected and thereby subjecting said operator to possible inju y.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the coupler is provided with an extension or aligning arm 8 projecting forwardly from the guard arm side of the coupler head and an aligning pocket 9 formed on the other or knuckle side of the coupler head, both of which are spaced laterally of the center line of draft .r:c. It will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 1 that as two separated vehicles provided with couplers of the present invention approach one another the aligning arm 8, shown by dash lines, will enter the pocket 9 and the pocket 9 Will receive the arm 8 and thereby urge the couplers into longitudinal alignment in order to effect a connection therebetween. The heights of the aligning arm and the opening in the pocket are preferably of such dimensions so that when two couplers are connected together the arms 8 of an associated coupler will engage the top and bottom walls of the pocket 9 and thereby restrict vertical movement therebetween. The only functions performed by the arms 8 and pocket 8 are to bring two disconnected couplers into longitudinal and vertical alignment and prevent a relative vertical movement therebetween. Relative transverse movement between the connected couplers will be restricted by reason of the interlocked knuckles.

The coupler head 2 is provided with an upper wall l0 and a lower Wall I disposed transversely and positioned intermediate the ends thereof so as to reinforce and connect the guard arm and knuckle side of the coupler. The walls I!) and H are preferably formed with outwardly extending bosses 2 which are adapted to be engaged by and form wearing pads for the bufiing face 3 of an associated knuckle. The coupler is constructed so that the distance from the pulling face of the coupler, indicated by the line y-y', to the bufiing face 3 of the knuckle is preferably equal to the distance from the pulling face of the coupler to the bosses l2 so that the bufiing face will, at all times, engage the pads, thereby preventing relative longitudinal movement between a pair of connected couplers.

As a pair of connected couplers is restricted against relative movement in any direction, said couplers are preferably intended to be used in combination with a universal coupler-yoke connection so as to permit an unrestricted, service movement of the coupler head, and any suitable connection, such as that illustrated and claimed in my and Albert E. Lakes joint copending application Serial No. 143,592, filed May 19, 1937, may be employed.

From the preceding description it will be ob served that the couplers will form a rigid beam operatively connecting associated vehicles and as a result thereof any slack or lost motion therebetween will be eliminated entirely,

Draft and buffing strains, to which the coupler is subjected in service, are directly absorbed by webs or shoulders I3 and l3 projecting inwardly of the head from the top wall M and bottom wall l5, respectively, to within complementary grooves #6 provided in the tail portion i? of the knuckle, thereby partially effectively relieving the pin 4 of said strains. The webs it and w as Well as the grooves 56, are formed radially and desirably coaxial with the pin 6, thereby permit-- ting an unrestricted rotative movement of the knuckle from closed to open position and vice versa in order to disconnect or connect a pair of couplers. However, as the shoulders and grooves, above referred to, are spaced laterally tially relieve the pin of this lateral force there is provided a pair of oppositely disposed annular bosses l8 projecting inwardly of the head from the top and bottom walls thereof to within complementary cup-shaped depressions l8 formed in the knuckle, the above-described structure being most clearly illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings.

The operating mechanism of the instant invention, considered generally, comprises a knuckle lock l9 adapted to engage the knuckle tail I! in order to prevent the rotation thereof, a knuckle opener 20 mounted pivotally within the coupler head and actuated by the lock E9 to urge the knuckle from closed to open position,

a lock link or lever 2| extending into the coupler head through a downwardly facing aperture 22 provided in the lower portion of the head and arranged to slidably engage the lock in order to impart an upward movement thereto, and an operating lever 0r rotary arm 23 connected pivotally to the lock link and coupler head. The knuckle lock I9 and knuckle opener 20 are introduced into the coupler head through a forwardly facing aperture 22 which is partially defined by the vertically spaced transverse walls in and II.

The lock l9, comprising a head portion 26 and transversely spaced depending legs 25, is movable vertically and guided in said movement by a side wall 26 forming a portion of the guard arm side of the coupler and a longitudinally extending reinforcing web 21 which extends between the transverse wall IO and the rear wall 28 forming the horn of the coupler. The side wall 26 and the reinforcing web 21 are desirably in longitudinal alignment with the walls 2 of the coupler stem so as to transmit buffing strains directly thereto. The look, when in elevated position, is restricted against longitudinal displacement by means of the transverse wall IE3 and the rear wall 28.

A lug 29, extending laterally from adjacent the lower portion of the leg nearest the knuckle side of the coupler, projects within an accompanying recess or vertically extending channel 30 formed in the coupler head adjacent the lower portion thereof so as to guide the lock in its up ward and downward movements. If it should happen that the lock legs, during the downward movement of the lock, should be positioned forwardly toward the front portion of the coupler, thereby positioning the lug 29 out of vertical alignment with the channel 30', the lug will strike the angularly disposed surface 3| formed on the coupler head and thereby direct the lug into the channel as well as retain the lock in operable position.

The knuckle side of the lock is provided with an inclined or tapered surface 32 which cooperates and is juxtapositioned with a similarly tapered or correspondingly inclined surface 33 formed on the knuckle tail so that when the lock is in knuckle tail engagement a wedging action between the knuckle tail and lock will be effected. This wedging action, which tends to urge the knuckle in a counter-clockwise direction about the pin 4, as viewed from. the top, urges the knuckle inwardly of the head thereby providing a take-up means or compensation for wear in connected couplers which may result therein from continued use; sufficient clearance being provided between the knuckle tail and coupler head at 34 to permit an additional rotative movement of the knuckle from an initial or normal locked position.

As wear takes place in the knuckle, the lock is free to continue a downward movement until the undercut portion 35 thereof comes to rest upon the beveled surface 36 on the coupler head which arrests the downward movement of the lock and prevents an unwarranted separation of the lock from the assembled structure. It is to beobserved that this arrangement for take-up or additional rotation of the knuckle, as most clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, will at all times provide for a constant bearing relation between the knuckle bufiing face 3 and pads [2, thereby preventing longitudinal relative movement between connected or associated couplers.

. As the knuckle pivots through an are about the pin 4 and the lock moves in a vertical direction, it will be apparent that as the knuckle wears, the surface 33 on the knuckle tail will become angularly disposed to the surface 32 on the lock, and unless provided for, merely a line bearing or contact will be effected between the lock and knuckle, which is undesirable in structures of this type. It will also be observed that in order to initially provide a surface bearing relation of the knuckle tail and side wall 26 with the interposed lock, manufacturing tolerances must, of necessity, be reduced to a minimum. In order to overcome a line contact condition so as to maintain an adequate bearing surface between the surfaces 32 and 33 as well as to allow for a wider margin for manufacturing tolerances, means must be provided so as to permit the lock to rotate about a vertically disposed axis. To accomplish this desired result the guard arm. side 3'1 of the lock, oppositely disposed from the inclined surface 32, has formed on the forward portion thereof a vertically extending cylindrical or convex embossment 3B which is received by or extends into a correspondingly formed vertically extending cylindrical or concave indenture 39 positioned on the lower portion 25 of the coupfer head side Wall 26. The remaining or rear portion of the guard arm side 31 of the lock is desirably out of engagement with the wall 26 so as to permit an unrestricted pivotal or adjusting movement of the lock and thereby insure a constant surface contact between the surfaces.

32 and 33. The portions 38 and 3a are preferably made coaxial so as to provide an adequate bearing area between the lock and side wall 26, and sufficient clearance is provided about the lug 29 so as to permit the lock to pivot about a vertical axis.

The upper portion 26 of the side wall 26, desirably spaced outwardly of the lower portion Zfi so as to allow ample clearance for the lock during its upward movement to elevated position, is provided with a funnel or frusto-conical portion 26 which is engaged by the lock in its downward movement in order to direct the convex embossment 38 into the concave indenture 39.

The lock is moved upwardly and out of engagement with the knuckle tail and side wall 26 by means of the lock link or lever 2| which extends through the aperture 22 and between the depending lock legs 25. The upper extremity of the lever is desirably formed as a hammershaped longitudinally disposed head 40 adapted to move and be positioned within a recess or cavity 4| in the head portion 24 of the lock. 2

that the lever may be moved unrestrictedly' through a desired distance and thereby impart dislodging impacts to the lock.

While the action between connected couplers changes from draft to buffing or vice versa, the vibratory forces transmitted to the coupler from the associated vehicle superstructure, considered together with the angular disposition of the surfaces 32 and 33, may cause the lock to creep upwardly out of knuckle tail engagement. In order to obviate this undesired condition, which would result in an unwarranted disconnection of the couplers, a finger 44, extending forwardly from the lever head 40, overlies and is adapted to be superimposed upon a transversely disposed shelf extending rearwardly into and partially restricting the lower portion of the cavity 4|. The rear portion of the lever head is provided with a shoulder 46 which normally underlies and is adapted to engage a stop web 41 on the coupler head.

An integral trunnion 48, outstanding laterally from the lever, extends into a diagonally disposed relief or guideway 48 formed in the lock and opening into the cavity 4| in order to direct the shoulder 46 away from the web 41 as well as conduct the sinuous surface 42 of the lever into engagement with the roof portion 43 of the cavity when the mechanism is operated to disconnect the couplers.

The lower extremity of the lever is connected pivotally to an upwardly opening jaw 49 forming .a forward portion of the operating or rotary arm 23 by means of an integrally formed trunnion 5i) outstanding laterally from the lever and extending into an aperture 49 in the jaw and an oppositely disposed integrally formed trunnion 53 cradled in a notch 49* in the jaw and substantially aligned with the aperture 4%. The pivotal connection between the lever and rotary arm is so formed in order to facilitate the assembly of the lever and arm.

The rotary arm 23, positioned adjacent the lower portion of the coupler head, is interposed between spaced arms 5| depending from the coupler head, and connected pivotally thereto by means of a pin 52. The arm is also provided with an elongated aperture 53 positioned intermediate the ends thereof for the accommodation of a transversely disposed release rigging (not shown) which may be one of any of the well known mechanisrns employed for effecting the uncoupling of connected couplers.

The knuckle opener 20, desirably in the form of a bell crank lever, is positioned Within the coupler head 2 for effecting a rotative or opening movement of a closed knuckle. The knuckle opener comprising a cylindrical sleeve or hollow shaft portion 54, the longitudinal axis of which intersects preferably the vertical axis of the pin 4, and angularly disposed to the center line of draft :B-m, is pivotally supported in the head by means of a bearing rod or pin 55 which extends through the cylindrical sleeve. The front portion of the pin extends into an annular relief 56 formed in the transverse top wall I0, while the rear portion of the pin projects into an aligned aperture 55 in the rear wall 28. The bearing rod or pin 55 is inserted into the coupler head through the aperture 56 and a cotter key 5'! or any suitable retaining means is threaded through the aligned apertures 5'! so as to be positioned across the aperture 56 and thereby retain the pin in operable position.

A kicker or knuckle actuating arm 58 extends downwardly and forwardly from the cylindrical sleeve to be positioned normally adjacent the knuckle tail l1, adapted to engage the knuckle tail to impart a rotative movement to the knuckle. The rear arm 59, which extends outwardly from the cylindrical sleeve, overlies the lock in spaced relation so that when the lock is elevated to knuckle-releasing position, as most clearly illustrated in Figures '7 and 8, said lock will engage the arm 59 and the knuckle opener will be actuated during the remaining upward movement of the lock.

The operation of the structure of the present invention, assuming that the associated parts are positioned as disclosed by Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, is as follows:

When the lock is in knuckle tail engagement, as most clearly illustrated in Figure 2, it will be observed that accidental displacement thereof is prevented by the finger 44 of the lever overlying the shelf 45 of the lock and the shoulder 46 of the lever underlying the stop web 41 in the head, thereby positively restricting an unwarranted upward movement of the lock. By a manipulation of the release rigging which, as stated previously, is not illustrated, the rotary arm 23 will be actuated about the pin 52 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the guard arm side of the coupler, thereby urging the lever 2| in a substantially vertical direction, and by reason of the angularly disposed surfaces 60 and 69 formed on the shoulder 46 and stop web 41, respectively, as well as the trunnion 48 which extends into and. is directed upwardly and outwardly by the diagonally disposed guideway 48 the upper or head portion of the lever will be diverted forwardly until the shoulder passes from beneath the stop web. By a continued rotation of the arm 23 the sinuous surface 42 of the lever will engage the cavity roof 43, after which the lock can then be moved entirely out of engagement with the knuckle tail and poised in lookset position, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. When the lock is in lock-set position the lock legs engage and rest upon shoulders 6| formed in the coupler head adjacent the upper extremity of the vertically disposed channel and the head portion 24 of the lock bears against the transverse upper wall I0, thereby allowing the knuckle to rotate freely from closed to open position, if desired.

By further assuming that a pair of couplers is operatively connected and it is desirous to disconnect the pair, the lock is elevated, as previously described, to lock-set position and, upon draft forces being applied to the couplers, the knuckle will be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the top. During the said rotative movement of the knuckle the beveled surface 62 on the knuckle tail will engage the undercut portion of the lock, thereby raising the lock still further in order to permit the lock to be positioned or rest upon the top surface 63 of the knuckle tail to pass beneath the lock.

It will be noted, however, that as the lock is engaged and elevated by the knuckle tail the lock legs will be carried away from the shoulders 6| and, by reason of the knuckle tail engaging the forward portion of the lock, the legs will move outwardly toward the front of the coupler and out of alignment with the shoulders so that when the knuckle is again closed the lock will be free to drop into knuckle tail engaging position, being guided during the descent thereof by means of the lug 29 which normally extends into the accommodating channel 36.

By reverting to the lock in lock-set position, a further rotation of the rocker arm 23 in a clockwise direction will raise the lock higher, whereupon said lock will strike the rear arm 59 and thereby urge the knuckle opener 20 about the pin in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the front of the coupler, which will result in the kicker or knuckle-actuating arm 58 forcing the knuckle about the pin 4 to open position, as most clearly illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 and by dot and dash lines in Figure 1. Upon release of the uncoupling rigging, the rotary arm will be permitted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the guard arm side of the coupler, and the lock and link will, therefore, descend until the lock head comes to rest upon the top surface 63 of the knuckle tail, thereby being once more in position to drop into knuckle-locking position as the knuckle tail is moved therebeneath.

It will, of course, be understood that merely an exemplary form of the present invention has been disclosed in the drawings and described in the present specification and that various changes, together with numerous alterations, may be made to the particularly disclosed and described structure without departing from within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted thereon having a tail portion extending into said head, a vertically movable look within the head adapted to engage the knuckle tail for retaining the knuckle in closed position, said lock having an inclined surface adapted to engage a correspondingly inclined surface on the knuckle tail thereby compensating for wear in the coupler, and a convex surface disposed oppositely from the inclined surface and bearing against an associated concave surface in the coupler head to provide for an equalization of said lock.

2. In a railway coupler, in combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted thereon having a tail portion extending into said head, a vertically movable lock within the head adapted to engage the knuckle tail for retaining the knuckle in closed position, said lock having an inclined surface adapted to engage a correspondingly inclined surface on the knuckle tail, thereby compensating for wear in the coupler, and a vertically disposed convex cylindrical surface on said lock coaxial with and bearing against a concave cylindrical surface in the coupler head to provide for a pivotal movement of the lock whe said lock is in knuckle tail engagement.

3. In a railway coupler, in combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted thereon having a tail portion extending into said head, a vertically movable lock interposed between the knuckle tail and a wall of said head for retaining the knuckle in closed position, the knuckle side of said lock having an angularly disposed surface normally juxtapositioned with a correspondingly disposed surface on said knuckle tail in order to urge said knuckle rotatably and thereby compensate for wear in the coupler, the wall side of the lock having a front portion thereof formed with an outstanding cylindrical convex surface normally bearing against a cor-. respondingly formed concave surface on said wall and a rear portion thereof spaced from the wall so as to permit the lock to pivot about a vertical axis.

4;. In a railway coupler, in combination, a coupler head having a vertically disposed longitudinally extending wall, a knuckle rotatably mounted on said head being provided with a tail portion extending within said head, a vertically movable lock interposed between said knuckle tail and wall having an inclined surface engaging a correspondingly inclined surface on the knuckle tail and a convex surface bearing against and coaxial with a concave surface on said wall, an opening formed in the lower portion of said head, legs on said lock extending into said opening having a lug outstanding from the lower portion thereof and projecting into a vertically disposed groove for guiding the lock in its movement, and means extending through said opening and engaging the lock for imparting motion thereto.

5. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted thereon having a tail portion extending into said head, a vertically movable lock within the head adapted to engage the knuckle tail for retaining the knuckle in closed position, said lock having an inclined surface adapted to engage a correspondingly inclined surface on the knuckle tail and a vertically disposed convex, cylindrical surface coaxial with and bearing against a concave surface in the coupler head to provide for a pivotal movement of the lock, and an undercut portion on the lock adapted to engage an underlying shoulder portionof the head so as to limit the downward movement of the lock.

6. In combination, a coupler head having transversely disposed vertically spaced walls, a knuckle rotatably mounted on said headhaving a portion thereof spaced forwardly of said walls and a tail extending into said head adapted to move between said walls, a lock positioned within the head adapted to engage the knuckle tail for retaining the knuckle in closed position, said lock having an inclined surface'normally engaging a correspondingly inclined surface on the knuckle tail in order to move said forward knuckle portion toward said walls, thereby compensating for wear therein, a convex surface on said lock disposed oppositely from the inclined surface and in bearing relation with an associated concave surface on the coupler head to provide for an equalization of said lock.

7. In a railway coupler, in combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted on said head having a tail portion extending into said head, a vertically movable lock adapted to engage the knuckle tail for retaining the knuckle in closed position, a lever extending through an aperture provided in the bottom portion of said head having a head portion positioned within a cavity formed in said lock, said lever head having a top surface normally spaced from a surface forming a roof portion of said lock cavity so that when the lever is urged upwardly impacts may be imparted to the lock, and a trunnion outstanding from said lever and extending into a correspondingly formed recess in said look to form guide means for said lever.

8. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted thereon and having a tail portion extending into said head, a vertically movable lock within the head adapted to engage the knuckle tail for restricting an opening movement thereof and provided with spaced depending legs, a lever positioned between said legs and having a head portion housed by a cavity formed in said lock, the top portion of said lever being normally spaced from a roof portion of said cavity, and a rotary arm pivotally connected to said head and lever adapted to move said lever upwardly to impart dislodging impacts to said lock.

9. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted on said head and having a tail portion positioned within said head, a vertically movable lock interposed between the knuckle tail portion and a wall formed in said head, a lever extending within a cavity formed in said lock for urging said lock upwardly out of knuckle tail engagement, a finger provided on said lever superimposed upon a shelf extending within said cavity, and a shoulder on said lever underlying a web formed in said head for arresting an upward movement of said lock.

10. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle rotatably mounted on said head having a tail portion positioned within said head, a vertically movable lock interposed between the knuckle tail and a wall formed in said head, said lock being provided with spaced depending legs, a lug extending outwardly from one of said legs into a vertically disposed recess for guiding the lock during the vertical movement thereof, a lever having a portion positioned within a cavity formed in said lock for urging said lock upwardly out of knuckle tail engagement, a finger provided on said lever and superimposed upon a shelf extending within said cavity, and a shoulder on said lever underlying a web formed in said head for arresting an upward movement of said lock, said shoulder and web having inclined surfaces for allowing the shoulder to move from beneath the web.

11. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle an inclined surface adapted to engage a correspondingly inclined surface on the knuckle tail and a convex surface disposed oppositely from the inclined surface and bearing against an associated concave surface in the coupler head to provide for an equalization of said lock, a lever extending within a cavity in said lock for urging said lock upwardly out of knuckle tail engagement, a finger provided on said lever superimposed upon a shelf extending within said cavity, and a shoulder on said lever underlying a web formed in said head for arresting an unwarranted upward movement of said lock.

12. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle DONALD S. BARROWS. 

